Blade Sharpener

ABSTRACT

A blade sharpener has a frame, first and second rods, a first hub, and a second hub. The first and second rods are adapted and configured to engage a blade to be sharpened. The first hub is operatively connected to the frame and the first rod. The second hub is operatively connected to the frame and the second rod. The first hub being rotatable between an outer position of the first rod relative to the frame and an inner position of the first rod relative to the frame. The second hub being rotatable between an outer position of the second rod relative to the frame and an inner position of the second rod relative to the frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 63/053,125, filed on Jul. 17, 2020, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is directed to a blade sharpener. In particular,the disclosure is related to a blade sharpener specifically adapted andconfigured to sharpen circular and round blades commonly used indefatting and deboning processes. More in particular, the disclosure isdirected to a sharpener that can sharpen round or circular blades thatare used in connection with knives such as that shown by way of exampleand not in any limiting sense in U.S. Pat. No. 8,448,340. As will becomeevident from the disclosure that follows, the blade sharpener may belocated next to a meat cutting workstation and the user may insert therotary cutter between rods on the blade sharpener to sharpen the bladeof the rotary cutter. This allows the user to conveniently sharpen therotatory cutter when necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary blade sharpener.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the blade sharpener of FIG. 1 showing hubs ofthe blade sharpener rotated to an outer position of the rods relative tothe frame.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the blade sharpener of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the blade sharpener of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the blade sharpener of FIG. 2 with a right hubremoved to provide additional detail of an axle pin on which the hub isrotatably disposed, a hub position limiter pin, and a torsion springengagement pin that secures an outer portion of the torsion spring to aframe of the blade sharpener.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hub of the blade sharpener of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the hub of FIG. 6 showing a recess in the backof the hub that houses the torsion spring, a center axle pin receivinghole that receives an axle pin to allow the hub to rotate relative tothe frame, and a center locator around the center axle pin receivinghole that secures an inner portion of the torsion spring to the centerof the hub.

FIG. 8 is a partial, enlarged detail view of the hub of FIG. 6 showingrod receiving holes that receive ends of rods of the blade sharpener andallow the rods to be mounted to the hub, threaded holes in the hub thatreceive set screws which secure the rods to the hub in the rod receivingholes, a threaded hole in the hub that receives a set screw and allowsthe hub to be rotatably mounted to an axle pin of the frame, the torsionspring in phantom, the torsion spring engagement pin in phantom, the hubposition limiter pin in phantom, and a cut-out in the rear of the hubthat engages the hub position limiter pin.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the hub of FIG. 6 with the rod receivingholes, the threaded set screw rod engagement holes, the axle pinreceiving hole, the threaded set screw axle pin engagement hole, the hubcut-out, and torsion spring center locator shown in hidden lines.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the hub of FIG. 6 showing the hub cut-out, thecenter axle pin engagement hole, and the torsion spring center locatorwith the rod receiving holes, the threaded set screw rod engagementholes, and the threaded set screw axle pin engagement hole shown inhidden lines.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the hub of FIG. 6 showing the threaded setscrew rod engagement holes and the threaded set screw axle pinengagement hole at the 9 o'clock position, with the rod receiving holes,the axle pin receiving hole, the hub cut-out, and torsion spring centerlocator shown in hidden lines.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the hub of FIG. 11 rotated 90 degreescounterclockwise or downward of the view of FIG. 11 and showing thethreaded set screw rod engagement holes and the threaded set screw axlepin engagement hole at the 6 o'clock position, with the rod receivingholes, the axle pin receiving hole, the hub cut-out, and torsion springcenter locator shown in hidden lines.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the hub of FIG. 12 rotated 90 degreescounterclockwise or downward of the view of FIG. 12 and showing the rodreceiving holes, with the threaded set screw rod engagement holes, thethreaded set screw axle pin engagement hole at the 3 o'clock position,the axle pin receiving hole, the hub cut-out, and torsion spring centerlocator shown in hidden lines.

FIG. 14 is a front of the blade sharpener of FIG. 1 showing the hubsrotated to an inner position of the rods relative to the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary blade sharpener 20 has a frame 22. The frame may beadapted and configured to allow the blade sharpener to be located on astructure adjacent a meat cutting workstation. Accordingly, the framemay have mounting holes and surfaces for such purposes. The frame mayalso have a handle to allow the user to manually hold the bladesharpener while sharpening a cutter of a rotary cutter. The frame mayhave a center axis 24 with the frame being symmetrical about the centeraxis 24. The center axis 24 may define a plane with the plane definingopposite first and second sides of the plane.

The blade sharpener 20 may have first and second rods 26,28 adapted andconfigured to engage a blade to be sharpened. The rods 26,28 may beformed from hardened steel, and more in particular, hardened stainlesssteel, and more in particular, ASTM 440C stainless steel hardened to 53Rc-55 Rc and passivated to resist corrosion.

The blade sharpener 20 may be provided with a first hub 30 and may beprovided with a second hub 32. The first hub 30 may be operativelyconnected to the frame 22. The second hub 32 may be operativelyconnected to the frame 22. The first rod 26 may be operatively connectedto the first hub 30. The second rod 28 may be operatively connected tothe second hub 32. The second hub 32 may be laterally spaced from thefirst hub 30 across the center axis 24 and thus the hubs 30,32 and therods 26, 28 may be symmetric across the center axis 24 and plane. Asshown in the drawings (see e.g., FIG. 5), the frame 22 may have an axlepin 36 for a hub. The axle pin 36 may be rigidly mounted to the frame 22with the distal end of the axle pin 36 projecting from a front face 38of the frame 22. The axle pin 36 may have a recessed diameter portionadjacent its distal end. The hub 30,32 may have a center hole 40 on itsrear surface adapted and configured to receive the axle pin 36. The hub30,32 may be rotatably disposed on the axle pin 36. The hub 30,32 mayhave a cylindrical outer surface with a threaded hole 42 extending fromthe cylindrical outer surface to the center of the hub through thecenter axle pin receiving hole 40. A axle pin set screw 44 may bedirected through the threaded set screw axle pin engagement hole 42 toengage the recess of the axle pin 40. The axle pin set screw 44 ispositioned in the recess of the axle pin 40 to prevent axial motion ofthe hub relative to the axle pin but to allow the hub to rotate on theaxle pin. This allows the hub 30,32 to be removably secured androtatably disposed on the axle pin 40. Accordingly, the hub 30,32 isadapted and configured to rotate relative to the frame 22 while the axlepin 40 is stationary relative to the frame 22. Alternatively, the axlepin 40 may rotate with the hub relative to the frame 22. The first andsecond hubs 30,32 may have a like construction in this regard.

Also, as shown in the drawings, the rods 26,28 are removably secured toa respective hub 30,32. The hub 30,32 may be provided with rod receivingholes 50 that receive ends of the rods and allow the rods to be mountedto the hub. The hub 30,32 may also be provided with threaded holes 52 inthe hub that receive set screws 54 which secure the rods to the hub inthe rod receiving holes. The threaded set screw rod engagement holes 52may be directed through the hub in a manner to intersect the rodreceiving holes 50. Rod engagement set screws 54 may be directed throughthe threaded set screw rod engagement holes 52 to pin the rod ends inplace in the rod receiving holes 50. Alternatively, the rod ends may bemechanically joined to the hub by deformation (e.g.,crimping/staking/swaging), thermal expansion and contraction, adhering,or threading, and the threaded set screw rod engagement holes may beeliminated. The first and second hubs 30, 32 may have a likeconstruction in this regard.

The first hub 30 may be adapted and configured to rotate between anouter position of the first rod 26 relative to the frame 22, and aninner position of the first rod 26 relative to the frame 22. The secondhub 32 may be adapted and configured to rotate between an outer positionof the second rod 28 relative to the frame 22, and an inner position ofthe second rod 28 relative to the frame 22. When the first hub 30 is inthe outer position, the first rod 26 extends away from the frame 22 andcrosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of the planeat an outer distance 60 (see, e.g., FIG. 2). When the first hub 30 is inthe inner position, the first rod 26 extends away from the frame 22 andcrosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of the planeat an inner distance 62 (see, e.g., FIG. 14). The first rod innerdistance 62 is closer to the frame 22 than the first rod outer distance60. When the second hub 32 is in the outer position, the second rod 28extends away from the frame 22 and crosses from the second side of theplane to the first side of the plane at an outer distance 64 (see, e.g.,FIG. 2). When the second hub 32 is in the inner position, the second rod28 extends away from the frame 22 and crosses from the second side ofthe plane to the first side of the plane at an inner distance 66 (see,e.g., FIG. 14). The second rod inner distance 66 is closer to the frame22 than the second rod outer distance 64. When the first hub 30 is inthe outer position and when the second hub 32 is in the outer position,the first and second rods 26,28 may form a general x-shape in plan view(see, e.g., FIG. 2). When the first hub 30 is in the outer position, thefirst rod 26 may cross from the first side of the plane to the secondside of the plane at an intersection point 68, and when the second hub32 is in the outer position, the second rod 28 extends away from theframe 22 and may cross from the second side of the plane to the firstside of the plane at the intersection point 68.

The first rod 26 may have first and second members 70,72 laterallyspaced from one another. The first and second members 70,72 of the firstrod 26 may be parallel to each other and may form a loop at a distal endof the first rod 26. The second rod 28 may have first and second members74,76 laterally spaced from one another. The first and second members70,72 of the second rod 28 may be parallel to each other and may form aloop at a distal end of the second rod 28. Alternatively, the first rod26 and/or the second rod 28 may be an elongate structure. As best shownin FIG. 3, the first rod first member 70 is laterally outboard of thesecond rod first member 74, and the second rod second member 76 islaterally outboard of the first rod second member 72. Otherconfigurations may also be used. For instance, the first rod firstmember 70 may be laterally outboard of the second rod first member 74,and the first rod second member 72 may be laterally outboard of thesecond rod second member 76. The first hub 30 may formed with two rodreceiving holes 50 and two corresponding threaded set screw rodengagement holes 52 to receive the ends of the first rod first andsecond members 70,72. The second hub 32 may formed with two rodreceiving holes 50 and two corresponding threaded set screw rodengagement holes 52 to receive the ends of the second rod first andsecond members 74,76. The number of rod receiving holes 50 andcorresponding threaded set screw rod engagement holes 52 may beconfigured as needed depending upon the structure of the rods (twomembers or elongate). As shown in FIG. 3, the first rod first member 70abuts the second rod first member 74, and the second rod second memberabuts 76 the first rod second member 72 at the intersection point 68.However, it is not necessary that the first rod first member 70 abutsthe second rod first member 74, or that the second rod second memberabuts 76 the first rod second member 72.

Making reference to FIG. 2, when the first hub 30 is in the outerposition, the first rod 26 may have a first region extending from thehub 30 to the intersection point 68 that is curvilinear. For instance,when the first hub 30 is in the outer position, the first rod firstregion may be convex relative to the plane. Also, when the first hub 30is in the outer position, the first rod 26 may have a second regionextending from the intersection point 68 to a distal end of the firstrod that is curvilinear. For instance, when the first hub 30 is in theouter position, the first rod second region may be concave relative tothe plane. In a similar fashion, when the second hub 32 is in the outerposition, the second rod 28 may have a first region extending from thehub 32 to the intersection point 68 that is curvilinear. For instance,when the second hub 32 is in the outer position, the second rod 28 mayhave a first region that is convex relative to the plane.

Also, when the second hub 32 is in the outer position, the second rod 28may have a second region extending from the intersection point 68 to adistal end of the second rod that is curvilinear. For example, when thesecond hub 32 is in the outer position, the second rod second region maybe concave relative to the plane. This shape allows a circular orrounded blade of the rotary cutter to engage the rods for sharpening theblade, and also allows the user to easily insert the rotary cutterbetween the rods 26,28 and move the rotary cutter in a reciprocatingmotion along the direction of the center axis 24 between the rods tosharpen the blade.

To facilitate sharpening of the blade and the reciprocating motion ofthe user along the direction of the center axis 24 between the rods tosharpen the blade, the first hub 30 may be biased to rotate from theinner position to the outer position. In other words, the user may movethe rotary cutter downward so as to move the first rod 26 in a clockwisemotion from that shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 14 against springpressure, such that the first rod spring returns upward as the first hub30 rotates to the outer position as the rotary cutter is moved upward.In addition or in the alternative, the second hub 28 may be biased torotate from the inner position to the outer position. In other words,the user may move the rotary cutter downward so as to move the secondrod 28 in a counterclockwise motion from that shown in FIG. 2 to thatshown in FIG. 14 against spring pressure, such that the second rodspring returns upward as the second hub 32 rotates to the outer positionas the rotary cutter is moved upward. The hub 30,32 may be provided witha torsion spring 80 that is configured to bias the hub 30,32 to rotatefrom the inner position to the outer position. The torsion spring 80 maybe positioned in a recess in the rear face of the hub 30,32. Thus, whenthe rotary cutter is inserted between the rods 26,28, the blade of thecutter engages the rods 26,28 in a manner that causes the distal ends ofthe rods to move away from each other which in turn causes the hubs30,32 to rotate against torsion spring pressure from the outer positionsof the hubs 30,32 to the inner positions of the hubs 30,32. The increasein the distance between the rods 26,68 allows the user to insert theblade of the cutter between the rods and more easily accommodatessharpening of a round or circular blade. When the blade of the cutter isremoved from between the rods 26, 28, the blade releases from the rods26, 68, and the hubs 30, 32 rotate by virtue of torsion spring pressurein a manner causing the rods 26, 28 to move toward each other as thehubs 30, 32 rotate from the inner positions of the hubs 30, 32 to theouter positions of the hubs 30, 32. An inner end of the torsion spring80 may be secured around a center locator 40 on the rear face of the hub30,32. An outer end of the torsion spring 80 may secured around a pin 86fixed to the frame.

The blade sharpener may include a position limiter for one or more ofthe hubs 30, 32. The first hub 30 may have a first hub position limiterconfigured and adapted to set the position of the outer position and theinner position of the first hub 30. The second hub 32 may have a secondhub position limiter configured and adapted to set the position of theouter position and the inner position of the second hub 32. Thepositioner limiter for the hub 30,32 may comprise a cut-out 90 on a faceof the hub 30, 32 and a pin 92 extending outward from the front face 38of the frame 22 that is configured to engage one side of the cut-out 90when the hub 30, 32 is in the inner position and an opposite side of thecut-out when the hub is in the outer position. One or both of the hubs30, 32 may be configured with a cut-out 90 and pin 92.

Further embodiments can be envisioned by one of ordinary skill in theart after reading this disclosure. In other embodiments, combinations orsub-combinations of the above-disclosed invention can be advantageouslymade. The example arrangements of components are shown for purposes ofillustration and it should be understood that combinations, additions,re-arrangements, and the like are contemplated in alternativeembodiments of the present invention. Thus, various modifications andchanges may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spiritand scope of the invention as set forth in the claims and that theinvention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents withinthe scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A blade sharpener comprising: a frame having acenter axis, the center axis defining a plane, the plane definingopposite first and second sides of the plane; first and second rodsadapted and configured to engage a blade to be sharpened; a first hubbeing operatively connected to the frame, the first rod beingoperatively connected to the first hub; a second hub being operativelyconnected to the frame, the second rod being operatively connected tothe second hub, the second hub being laterally spaced from the first hubacross the center axis; the first hub being rotatable between an outerposition of the first rod relative to the frame and an inner position ofthe first rod relative to the frame; the second hub being rotatablebetween an outer position of the second rod relative to the frame and aninner position of the second rod relative to the frame; when the firsthub is in the outer position, the first rod extends away from the frameand crosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of theplane at an outer distance, when the first hub is in the inner position,the first rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the firstside of the plane to the second side of the plane at an inner distance,the first rod inner distance being closer to the frame than the firstrod outer distance; when the second hub is in the outer position, thesecond rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the second sideof the plane to the first side of the plane at an outer distance; whenthe second hub is in the inner position, the second rod extends awayfrom the frame and crosses from the second side of the plane to thefirst side of the plane at an inner distance, the second rod innerdistance being closer to the frame than the second rod outer distance;and when the first hub is in the outer position and when the second hubis in the outer position, the first and second rods form a generalx-shape in plan view.
 2. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein: whenthe first hub is in the outer position, the first rod crosses from thefirst side of the plane to the second side of the plane at anintersection point, and when the second hub is in the outer position,the second rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the secondside of the plane to the first side of the plane at the intersectionpoint.
 3. The blade sharpener of claim 2 wherein the first rod has firstand second members laterally spaced from one another.
 4. The bladesharpener of claim 3 wherein the second rod has first and second memberslaterally spaced from one another.
 5. The blade sharpener of claim 4wherein the first rod first member is laterally outboard of the secondrod first member, and the second rod second member is laterally outboardof the first rod second member.
 6. The blade sharpener of claim 4wherein the first rod first member abuts the second rod first member,and the second rod second member abuts the first rod second member atthe intersection point.
 7. The blade sharpener of claim 2 wherein whenthe first hub is in the outer position, the first rod has a first regionextending from the hub to the intersection point that is curvilinear. 8.The blade sharpener of claim 7 wherein when the first hub is in theouter position, the first rod first region is convex relative to theplane.
 9. The blade sharpener of claim 7 wherein when the first hub isin the outer position, the first rod has a second region extending fromthe intersection point to a distal end of the first rod that iscurvilinear.
 10. The blade sharpener of claim 9 wherein when the firsthub is in the outer position, the first rod second region is concaverelative to the plane.
 11. The blade sharpener of claim 2 wherein whenthe second hub is in the outer position, the second rod has a firstregion extending from the hub to the intersection point that iscurvilinear.
 12. The blade sharpener of claim 11 wherein when the secondhub is in the outer position, the second rod has a first region isconvex relative to the plane.
 13. The blade sharpener of claim 11wherein when the second hub is in the outer position, the second rod hasa second region extending from the intersection point to a distal end ofthe second rod that is curvilinear.
 14. The blade sharpener of claim 13wherein when the second hub is in the outer position, the second rodsecond region is concave relative to the plane.
 15. The blade sharpenerof claim 1 wherein the first and second rod are hardened steel.
 16. Theblade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the first hub is biased to rotatefrom the inner position to the outer position.
 17. The blade sharpenerof claim 16 further comprising a torsion spring configured to bias thefirst hub to rotate from the inner position to the outer position. 18.The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the second hub is biased torotate from the inner position to the outer position.
 19. The bladesharpener of claim 17 further comprising a torsion spring configured tobias the second hub to rotate from the inner position to the outerposition.
 20. The blade sharpener of claim 1 further comprising a firsthub position limiter configured and adapted to set the position of theouter position and the inner position of the first hub.
 21. The bladesharpener of claim 20 wherein the first hub position limiter comprises acut-out on a face of the first hub and a pin extending outward from theframe that is configured to engage one side of the cut-out when thefirst hub is in the inner position and an opposite side of the cut-outwhen the first hub is in the outer position.
 22. The blade sharpener ofclaim 1 further comprising a second hub position limiter configured andadapted to set the position of the outer position and the inner positionof the second hub.
 23. The blade sharpener of claim 22 wherein thesecond hub position limiter comprises a cut-out on a face of the secondhub and a pin extending outward from the frame that is configured toengage one side of the cut-out when the second hub is in the innerposition and an opposite side of the cut-out when the second hub is inthe outer position.
 24. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the firstand second hubs are adapted and configured to move from their respectiveouter positions to their respective inner positions when a blade isinserted between and engages the first and second rods.
 25. The bladesharpener of claim 1 wherein the first and second hubs are adapted andconfigured to move from their respective inner positions to theirrespective outer positions when a blade is removed from between anddisengages from the first and second rods.
 26. The blade sharpener ofclaim 1 further comprising a first axle pin extending from the frame,the first hub being configured to rotate about the first axle pin and tobe removably mounted to the first axle pin.
 27. The blade sharpener ofclaim 1 further comprising a second axle pin extending from the frame,the second hub being configured to rotate about the first axle pin andto be removably mounted to the second axle pin.
 28. The blade sharpenerof claim 1 wherein the first rod is removably mounted to the first hub.29. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the second rod is removablymounted to the second hub.
 30. A method comprising: providing a bladesharpener wherein the blade sharpener comprises a frame having a centeraxis, the center axis defines a plane, the plane defines opposite firstand second sides of the plane, the blade sharpener has first and secondrods, a first hub being operatively connected to the frame with thefirst rod being operatively connected to the first hub, a second huboperatively connected to the frame with the second rod being operativelyconnected to the second hub and the second hub being laterally spacedfrom the first hub across the center axis, the first hub is rotatablebetween an outer position of the first rod relative to the frame and aninner position of the first rod relative to the frame, the second hub isrotatable between an outer position of the second rod relative to theframe and an inner position of the second rod relative to the frame, therods are configured such that when: (i) the first hub is in the outerposition, the first rod extends away from the frame and crosses from thefirst side of the plane to the second side of the plane at an outerdistance, (ii) the first hub is in the inner position, the first rodextends away from the frame and crosses from the first side of the planeto the second side of the plane at an inner distance, the first rodinner distance being closer to the frame than the first rod outerdistance, (iii) the second hub is in the outer position, the second rodextends away from the frame and crosses from the second side of theplane to the first side of the plane at an outer distance, (iv) thesecond hub is in the inner position, the second rod extends away fromthe frame and crosses from the second side of the plane to the firstside of the plane at an inner distance, the second rod inner distancebeing closer to the frame than the second rod outer distance; and (v)the first hub is in the outer position and when the second hub is in theouter position, the first and second rods form a general x-shape in planview; and inserting a blade between the first and second blades with atleast one of the hubs in the outer position; and moving the blade alongthe rods in a reciprocating fashion in a manner to rotate at least oneof the hubs between the inner and outer position of the hub.
 31. Themethod of claim 30 wherein the step of inserting the blade between therods includes inserting a blade having a rounded cross-section.
 32. Themethod of claim 30 wherein at least one of the hubs is biased to rotatefrom the inner position to the outer position; and the step of movingthe blade along the rods in a reciprocating fashion includes forcing therods apart as the at least one hub rotates from the outer position tothe inner position against the bias, and allowing the rods to cometogether as the at least one hub rotates from the inner position to theouter position with the bias.
 33. The method of claim 30 wherein theblade sharpener has at least one hub position limiter; and the step ofmoving the blade along the rods in a reciprocating fashion to rotate atleast one of the hubs between the inner and outer position of the hubincludes rotating at least one hub to engage the position limiter at theouter position of the hub.
 34. The method of claim 30 wherein the bladesharpener has at least one hub position limiter; and the step of movingthe blade along the rods in a reciprocating fashion to rotate at leastone of the hubs between the inner and outer position of the hub includesrotating at least one hub to engage the position limiter at the innerposition of the hub.